What is an API?

APIs, application programming interfaces, are the guidelines that allow applications to talk to one another.

APIs are awesome.

They increase your data’s accessibility for both you and 3rd parties, while also helping to shape a better user experience due to their uniform protocols.

They are almost everywhere. You can find them driving the apps on your cell phone and desktop, and connecting applications. APIs are why you can Tweet, Facebook, and Instagram your posts with a single click.

Some APIs are private and therefore can only be used by developers that have access (usually that companies employees), others are public or open.

The use of open APIs has become increasingly popular. Some naysayers worry about how this can negatively affect a business. They worry about giving access to parts of their company/information, but with open APIs 3rd parties are able to create and build on the service/product and therefore help make it better.

These issues aren’t as prevalent within the open data community. The motives behind sharing the data are based on providing accessibility and usability of the data and they recognize that making open APIs means their data is getting shared.

Open Data <3 Open API

As open data organizations move toward sharing their data through open APIs, there is an increase in developer interest and the creation of open data platforms. This is important; it’s not enough for the data to just be there, it needs to be accessible.

Programmers are hungry and creative people. You give them an open API and beautiful things happen. Data visualizations, mobile applications. The possibilities are endless.

Why are open apis important for open data?

Very few people use the hard datasets in raw format, mostly analyst and policymakers that enlist the data in the first place. Open APIS allow for greater syndication of the data.

Developers don’t want a hassle. Downloading and manipulating files is a pain in the a$$. They desire free and well documented APIs for better accessibility and in turn create web applications, data visualizations and more.

Data collection is easier. No downloading files, no paper pushing, the data is right there; ready to be used.

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